Traffic signal



Sept. 11, 1928; 1,684,207

C. D. SMYTH ET AL TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed July 15, 1924 a Sheets-Sheet 1 linen/'0 7's 65 47-127709 2.1 7): 34% Guy 17/. 905637;

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Sept. 11, 1928. 1,684,207

c. D. SMYTH ET AL TRAFFVIC SIGNAL Filed July 15, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet LO gay 4% 305 e a BY ' Meirfij Sept. 11, 1928.

Q. D. SMYTH ET AL TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed July 15, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 26y M Role];

Patented Sept. 11, 1928.

UNITED STATES v r 1,684,207 PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE D. SMYTH, 0F BOX, NEVADA, AND GUY M. ROBEY, OF LOS ANGELES,

CALIFORNIA.

TRAFFIC 1 Application filed July 15,

This invention relates to automatic signal apparatus and more especially to street and highway trafiic signal systems.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a semaphore .having signal faces designated by desired words, or other effective media, which are highly efiicient as signals both for day and night use, and which require no lamp illumination for daylight hours.

Signals have been proposed and tried out which involve translucent signs rendered effective by lamp light behind the signs. These are not satisfactory for daylight use because of insuliicient contrast between the concealed artificial light in the signal and natural daylight. One object, therefore, of this invention is to eliminate all forms of artificial light, translucent signal media.

An object is to eliminate semaphore arms and to provide fixed sign element and movable sign 'drops each respectively lettered (or otherwise marked) and so co-ordinated as to alternately cause change of traflic Z movement by automatically changing the displayed signals of the apparatus.

An important object is. to provide a device which is at once simple and substantial in construction, is readily adaptable by design and arrangement to meet the various an les of highway intersections, may be eit er suspended from overhead or supported on pedestal or column, and is effective and reliable in its action.

An object is to provide an unitary and compact, housed signal operating mechanism, and to provide 'a motor-driven signal operating means adapted to be bodily removed as a power plant from the house and another, duplicate in, organization, installed, all in a moments time, so that the signal is placed out of commission but a very'short time when repairs or other attention so demand. An object is to provide for accessibility to the signal mechanism without interruption of operation.

An object is to provide a signal system including the requisite stop and go signs, together with mean whereby signals may all be set togive go signs concurrently on its several display sides, as during light traffic days and'hours when control is not desired.

An object is to provide for the giving of a signal to hold all traffic for any period at SIGNAL.

1924. Serial N0. 726,139.

anytime, When emergency demands, and

to give, in such emergency, both audible and visible signals, preferably concurrently, and to set a number of fire signals in display and at the same time obliterate all 0" gns while the fire alarm or signal is e co.-

Another object is to provide for transmitting intelligence signals by means of certam of the traflic signal apparatusl Numerous other objects and advantages will be made manifest in the following specification of an illustrated embodiment of apparatus of the invention; it being understood that variations, modifications and adaptations may-be resorted to within the spirit of the invention and within its scope as here claimed.

The invention consists of means for accomplishing the objects.

Fig. is a pers ective of the Sign apparatus giving fire signal.

F1g. 2 illustrates the sign a paratus set to givfgi signals stop and go for lines of ra c.

Fig. 3'illustrates the sign apparatus giving concurrent go for intersecting lines of Fig. 4 is a diagram of the electrical controls of the apparatus. I

Fig. 5 is a central, vertical section of the s gnal house.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the'house, one cur tain being broken away.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section of the house.

Flg. 8 is a side view of a detached power plant.

Fig. of Fig. 7, the motor shelf being omitted.

Fig. 10 is a plan of parts in Fig. 9, showing the drop releasing means.

Fig. 11 is a perspective of a drop element.

Fig. 12 is a perspective of a certain element.

Fig. 13 is a perspective of aslotted, fixed, double sign member or wall.

The signal structure. The signal structure, of which any mememanation from an enclosed bell B and pro- 9 is a .vertical section on line 99' tects the interior from access upwardly by birds and insects. A hood 5 fits down tightly over the house and may be locked or secured in any manner.

On the hood is preferably provided a beacon light L to be flashed.

In the upper part of the house is a shelf 7 downwardly deflected at 8 and secured at its arm ends to fixed wall studs '9. This shelf also .has a central guide rod 10 extending to the bottom of the house. I

Excepting on one side of the house are side walls 11 fixed to the corner posts and studs. The corner posts may be economically made of angle-iron and have their flange edges grooved from top to bottom to form channel 12. Angle bars 13-are shown as clinching thewalls 11 in their angle posts.

One side wall 14 is mounted on a hinge 15 so as to open out and enable access into the house. i

The outer edge of the swinging wall may be locked closed by a key lock 16, Fig. 7.

" house.

The side wall 11-14, which may be of sheet metal, have central slots 17 to their top edges and in these lie, in the plane of the walls, filler blinds or strips 18 the lower ends of which are out-turned at 19 and connect with sliding elements 20 here called curtains because of their functions of covering the front lower portions of their side walls, which it here may be said, have front faces designated with the word Fire, Figs. 1 and 6.

The curtains 20, one for each signalling face, run at their vertical edges in channels 12 of the corner posts and they are detachably secured, as by screws 21, to the ends of cross-head arms 22 of which there is one for each effective side of the house. These arms radiate from a slide 23 on guide rod 10.

Above the cross-head '22 is another sliding carrier or cross-head with arms 24 and a slide 25 running on guide rod10. The studs 9 are spaced in pairs to receive and guide all the arms of the cross-heads. \Vorking, above the curtains 20, 1n the channels 12 are elements 26 here termed drops; one at each signal face of the In the form shown, each drop 26 has a goose-neck 27, from its upper edge, whose lower end 28 either rests on a lower crosshead arm 22, Fig. 9, or stands on an upper arm 24.

The goose-necks reach down in rear of the slot closing blinds 18.

It is desirable to lift or lower all four of the drops 26 concurrently and it is therefore necessary to provide for coupling the goose-necks 27, which rest on arms 22, to the arms 24 for action therewith. Again, it is desirable to lift certain drops 26 and leave others down while the upper crosshead is up or going up. Means are provided to accomplish this. On cross-head 24 together.

is a set of bolts 29 to be thrust into keepers or perforations 30 of goose-necks 27, Figs. 9 and 10. These bolts normally engage in their goose-necks 27 to carry them with cross-head 24 but may be tripped to release two of the respective drops 26 on requirement from cross-head 24. One means of effecting such release includes a lever 31 connecting the bolts and operative electro-mechanically, as by a solenoid 32 mounted on the cross-head'24.

Again it is desirable to lift all of the curtains 20 together with the drops to expose the fire signal. To that end a latch 33 is provided to lock the two cross-heads 22-24 The latch is carried by one crosshead 24 and engages the other cross-head 22, this action being controlled electro-mechanically as by an electromagnet'34.

Various suitable forms of means may be devised for lifting and lowering the curtains and the drops, the cross-headsv forming a simplemea-ns. As here shown the upper cross-head has a hook 35 in its slide 25 and from this extends a cable, or other connection, 36 leading over guide pulleys 37 to a.

crank 38, Fig. 8, on a slow speed wheel 39. This is driven by an electric (or other) motor 40 which is preferably mounted, with the driving g ar, on a bed 41 which can be readily passed into the house and set on shelf 7. To facilitate this convenience of assembly and removal of the power plant there is provided a'cover or door 43 hinged at 4'4 and coverin a side opening at the top of the movable si e wall 14. The motor and the gearing are mounted on the bed 41 and can be passed in and .out as a unit when the door 43 is open. The deflected part 8 of the shelf 7 clears the motor shell when this is passed in or out and so permits for compact construction and design of arts.

At each signal side, of wii may be employed according to the angle of intersection of roadways, there is rovided electric (or other) light means as ulbs 45 to illuminate the front faces of the signal elements, when exposed to view. These bulbs are referably partly covered by shielding re ectors 46 fully protectingtrafiic drivers and others from direct rays but brightly displaying the signals without blinding the traflic by glare. The angle of incidence on the signalfaces is such that there is no horizontal, blinding reflection from the faces which are preferably of flat or dull finish; the signal media being distinguishable by contrast against the flat, plane face. The signal elements being opaque no horizontal rays of light pass through and blurred or confusing signals cannot be presented.

lVeather strip 48 may be employed to close the crevices along the bottom edges of the reflector backs 47 and closure 43,

ich any number- A half-turn of the crank 38, by motor 40, will lift the movable signal elements so as to uncover the nether, concealed signs and a further half revolution will return the lifted signs to lower position.

The apparatus may have but one or any number of signalling faces and is here shown as for the usual right angle intersection of streets where it is desired to give duplex signals concurrently on opposite faces: Hence a pair of opposite'elements 26 are designated go for opposed lines of traflic and another set is designated stop. The walls 1114 beneath the movable go signs are marked stop and the walls 11 -11 beneath the movable stop signs are marked go. Therefore, when the movableelements 26 are down trafiic in say N; and S. directions is stopped while E. and W. traific is signalled go. \Vhen the signs 26 are moved an alarm is sounded by bell B and a red light signal given by the beacon L holding all traflic fora clearing period.

When the signs 26 are fully up they uncover the nether signal face and these, open N. and S. trafiic and close E. and \V. trafiic. After a suitable traific flow period the alarms are again given and the signs 26 lowered.

The lower portion of the fixed wall faces 1114 under all of the curtains are marked fire and when all curtains are lifted the fire signals are set and all trafiic stopped.

The control'system. At a main or central stationis a main switch M and a duplex switch panel and. automatic timing means for controlling the,

movablecontacts M (shown vertical) to .swing over fromone duplex system to the other.

The central station panel has a bank of service connector groups 50 for the system of signalhousc apparatus and the .connector groups have a master shift gang switch 51 to throw from one timer panel to'the other. The drawing shows, in Fig. 4, switch blades 52 lying open between two series of terminals, one for each of the above mentioned, duplicate, or reserve,

the switches 52* can be thrown from one panel to the other as needed.

In the following description the switchover-blades of switch .51 have been consid- B cred closed and forming continuations of the automatic timer panels, and switch M is connected to bar 51 so that several circuit lines, and the main switches M and S considered closed.

From the switch M runs feed line- 52 to a I panel switch S, thence to gang blade 52 and thence by a connector 50 to the remote motor 40 (or motors if more houses are in circuit).

to. the timer runs a feed line 53 havincut-outswitch T. This line has two brus es' v 53 and 53, one of which, engages a contact 54 and the other engages a contact 55; of

timer A. The timer has a brush 54. engageable with contact 54 and from it runs a line 53 to a remote brush 53 engageable with'a breaker contact 53 which leads by line 53 to motor 40 thus completing a motor circuit when and only whengbrushes .53, 54, contact 54, and brush 53 and contact 53'are all concurrently in closed relation. The contact 53 is shifted by the motor 40', when op;

crating to change signs and is. sotimed 1n position that as the movable sign elements complete the change the circuit by line53 is opened and motor 40 stopped.

Contact 54 may control down stroke of the signs, and conta'ct55 of timer-A, may control the up stroke. These contacts are designed to serve current'for a period required to complete a sh ft of signs, and contact 53' is local to its motor and will break its circuit at the proper moment, irrespective of the contact 54. This is to insure"independence of motor action at the several intersection houses. l p

Contact 55' is engageable with brush 53" and a line 55, to a movin contact 55" associated wth contact 53*. rom contact 55 a line 55 leads to motor 40 by line 53. If contacts 55 and 55'" are in closed relation with their brushes this will form another circuit forthe motor. When the upstroke of each sign combination, in respective houses, breaks its own motor circuit.

The timer A initiates motor action of all motors in asystem, and the circuit breaker of each house stops its own motorat the proper instant after lifting or lowering its.

sign elements.

is completed its respective contact 55 At the main panel or central station'is a bell switch B between line 53 and line 57 to the bell B which connects with feed line 52. Thus a signal can be manually sent from t-he gerliltral station by sounding signals from the e with change of signs at the house, through line 57 to circuit breaker contact 58 engageableby a brush to motor 40. While either motor circuit is closed, or for a part of theperiod, the bell I1I1gS.. a As an additional alarm signal to hold The bell is also soundedautomatically,

58 having a line 60 to line 55" To stop all traffic in emergency, as of fire, 1

the latch 33 can be actuated by control from central to lock the lower cross-head 22 to the pper cross-head 24 so that the fire signswill be displayed, This is effected by closing fire switch F, at central, from WhlCh leads line 63 to ma net 34, thence by line 64 to lateral 52", comp etin'gthe circuit. When.

' the latch 33 is set, then on the next up stroke ofthe driving gear crank 28 the curtains are lifted and fire signals shown. When the latch is set, current is shunted by linev 65 to the bell and'the beacon and these are energized to give alarms. By opening timer switch T the motor circuits will be broken and the signal mechanismrendered inoperative while the fire si al is on.

This present signal ing apparatus requires no illumination of its sign faces while there is enough day-light and lamps 45 are to be turned on-only in darkness. This is done by a lamp switch or switches anywhere in the system. Alamp' switch I is shown at central station. having a line 66 to lamps 45 which have'a-line 67 to lateral 52".

To set the signals to indicate go in all directions, when desired. as'after busy hours, and on Sundays and holidays, it is only necessary to disconnect those of the movable signals 26 having Go indicia from those movable elements 26 showing Stop so that the latter may be pulled clear of the fixed go signs, andleave the released drops show ng Go down over the fixed stop signs, as in Figj3. The release of the go drops 26-from the stop drops is controlled manually at anydesired point in the system. A switch G is shown at central station having line 68 to the electromechanical device 32 controlling the bolts 29. The feed lateral 52 connects to the device 32 making its circuit complete. To throw the bolts to again hitch up the movable drops 26, the'switch G can be thrown on line 69 'to reverse the magnetic device.

What is claimed is:

1. A traflic signal including a housing having fixed walls with outer traffic sign faces, a set of slidable traffic sign plates operative'to cover and uncover the relativefixed sign faces, meansto conceal the plates in one position in the housing, said fixedwalls having also Fire indicia, movable curtainsly-ing over the said indicia, and means for-moving the plates alone and for moving them and the curtains together to'cover the traffic signals and disclose the Fire indicia.

2. A traflic controlling apparatus including a support having a set .of non-moving signs facing in different directions, a

set of movable word signal drops means for concurrently and unidirectionall moying the drops to cover or uncover t e said signs, and means for concealing the movable drops when in a position uncovering the fixed signs.

3. A traffic controlling a paratus including a housing having fixed face wall with traffic signs thereon facing different directions, and having lower indicia portions, guides at the upright, corners of the housing, an upper set 0 movable sign bearing plates inthe guides, means to move the plates and to uncoverthe said signs and means to then conceal them in the housing, and a second set of movable non-sign, curtain plates in the same guides, and means to shift the curtain plates after the first plates have been withdrawn, to cover the sa d signs and uncover the lower indicia portion of the housing.

4. A traffic controlling a paratus having non-moving signal faces sli signals for crossing lines of traffic, groups of owing opposed sign plates coordinate to the respective faces and having indications opposite to the said faces, means to change position of all plates for indicating reverse signals by the apparatus, and means for connecting or releasing certain of the plates so that one set only will shift; whereby a uniform signal may be made and leave the other effective.

. 5. A traffic signal having fixed stop and go signal faces for a traffic crossing, a set of slides with go media and another set of slides with stop media arranged to cover and uncover ,the said fixed faces and showing contrary signals relative thereto, connecting means for the sets of slides, automatic means for relatively shifting the said slides and fixed signal faces to alternate given si s, and manually operative control means or disconnecting one set of slides from the other and effecting a display of all of the go only and concurrently.

6. A traffic signal having fixed go and stop signal, faces for crossing trafiic lines indexed slides arranged to cover and uncover respective faces and having contrary indications relative thereto and connecting means for the slides, means for shifting the slides to effect a reverse of signs, means for disconnecting selected slides showing-Stop from the Go slides for effecting a display of all of the go signals only at a time, and means adapted to obliterate all of the Go andStop signals.

' 7. A traffic signal apparatus including a fixed traffic regulating signal, a drop sign arranged to cover said signal, means to retract ,the sign, a curtain, means for operating the curtain at will to replace the drop sign and cover said signal when the said sign is shifted, and including means for operatively effect such replacement.

8. A signal casing, an upper set of signal drops operatively mounted in the casing,

.means connecting the drops for coaction and including a slide, a lower set of curtain elements coordinate to the drops and a carrier therefor, means for operating the slide to raise and lower the drops independently of the set of said elements, and means for connectingthe slide and the carrier for concurrent action, said signal drops having go-stop signal media for intersecting t-rafiic lines, said casing having go-stop indicia contrary to-the respective drops, andwarn ing signals onthe casing which are ex sed when the curtains are raised, said rops being movable into a position ,to conceal the said media. I

9. A traflic signal. apparatus including a housing having fixed walls with stop and go signs, upper movable sign plates for covering the signs, means to conceal the plates in one position in .the housing, a means for movably mounting cross-head to which the plates are operatively connected,

means for actuating the cross-head, to move the plates and uncover the said signs, and

means whereby predetermined plates may be disconnected at will from the cross-head to cover'ooordinate signs only.

10. In. a traffic signal, a set of cross-heads each carrying signal display means, means for normally operating only one cross-head, and manually controlled means for connecting the cross-heads at will-for concurrent act-ion toshift the display means to in- 7 effective position.

11. Signal apparatus including a guide structure, a fixed, inner signal wall, an outer slidable signal element movable in the guide structure to cover the inner wall, said wall and elements having contrary trafiic signal media, and the inner wall having a slot; a i

curtain slidably mounted in the guide structure, means for raising and lowering the curtain and including a part working along the said slot, and a blind attachedto the curtain and filling the slot when the curtain is in lower position, and means to raise the outer wall to uncover the inner wall and the blind therein.

12. A trafi'ic signal including a fire sign, a curtain therefor, fixed wall sets of plates and movable sets of members having signal faces with go and stop signs, those of one set covering and being contrary to those of the other set, means formoving the movable sets of members to expose the fixed sets of plates and effect a change of signals and including means for shifting the curtain to display the Fire sign, and means to conceal the shiftedmembers when the Fire sign is disclosed.

CLARENCE D. SMYTH. GUY M. ROBEY. 

